Broadcast: 16th April 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
A steamy love interest, an offbeat family holiday… and delicious pastries! In the second episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, Nick sits down with Bridie Blake, the debut author of romance novel The Boyfriend Clause.
Broadcast: 21st April 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
When the holiday romance ends, the real business begins. In the third episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, Nick sits down with Amanda Hewitt, the debut author of romance novel The Last Resort.
Broadcast: 28TH April 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
One party. One pill. Mothers don’t get second chances. Join us for the fourth episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, as Nick sits down with Katie Hoskins, the debut author of contemporary fiction drama, When the Party’s Over.
Speaking of Katie Hoskins… 👇🏾
Yes, I have a book giveaway!
For the first time ever, we have four copies of Katie Hoskins’ incredible contemporary fiction debut, When the Party's Over, to give away thanks to the awesome folks at Pan Macmillan Australia!
To enter, here’s what you have to do to go in the running!
Firstly, make sure you’re subscribed to this newsletter! Click here to subscribe if you’re not!
Comment 'ready to party' to go in the running to win! That’s it!
You can find out more about Katie's stunning debut in our episode of Date with a Debut, out right now wherever you get your podcasts. T&Cs apply!*
*Only four prizes available. Competition runs until 11:59pm AEST, Sunday 31st May 2026. Australian addresses only.
Now, review time… 👇🏾
What starts as a rom-com trope-heavy enemies-to-lovers story rapidly turns into something much more in Bridie Blake’s wonderful debut, The Boyfriend Clause.
Following Sabrina, the owner of a struggling cafe in Melbourne, A Cup of Joy, she has managed to pursue the dream of her own business thanks to a loan from her family - her loan agreement requires her to be in a committed relationship or pay back the loan in its entirety: the eponymous clause.
When a famous, moody author, Adam Whittaker, struggling with writers block moves across the hall, Sabrina tries to get overcome this clause by making up a fake boyfriend… and Adam, despite not being a huge fan of his new neighbour, is suddenly forced into a family trip with the Fogerty family.
This book does what it says on the tin: it’s an easy, whimsical, rosy read, and if you love that, you’re in for a treat. Blake knows her way around a romantic novel, which is exciting considering it is her debut.
But what sells this story from sliding into your standard rom-com are these two brilliant characters: Sabrina has a heart of gold, you absolutely root for her, and Adam, despite early impressions of him being a bit of a bastard, grows on you quickly when you see why he is the way he is.
Their first meeting in the opening chapter is, hands down, one of the best openings to a book I’ve ever read.
This novel also has great themes of finding your own voice and family dynamics, which is really sold by her mother, Dianne and her sister, Gabby, who express their power over the family in cutting ways, pushing on those underneath.
Yes, it’s a romance; you know they’ll end up together, but the journey to that is where this book shines; it comes with twists, turns, surprises and more. Bridie Blake signals her arrival as a name to watch in Australian romance with this brilliant debut.
RATING: 4/5 | BUY HERE
A story of finding love again in your forties, intimacy, self-love, boundaries, power dynamics and more, Amanda Hewitt has hit the ground running with a romance debut that beautifully subverts many of the tropes of the genre in great ways.
Starting in the Maldives, Abbey, recently separated, has arrived looking for a much-needed break from her chaotic life working at a hotel in Sydney. Nick, a widower, head of a powerful family with the weight on his shoulders, aims to try and get away from his responsibilities.
The two meet and engage in a joyous two-week fling together, but after Abbey returns to Sydney, on her first day back at work, she finds her hotel has a new owner, and across from the table sits none other than Nick.
The story follows as they try to go about saving this hotel, with Nick determined to keep his distance and boundaries… but with both searching for love, is it worth the risk?
First up, this book has some great steamy moments and tension; it’s not a spoiler to say that Abbey and Nick get it on pretty early… and it makes moments afterwards where they have to be professional SO MUCH WORSE!
What sells this story are great leads; Hewitt divides each chapter into different points of view, which results in events playing out in wonderfully unexpected ways. Abbey is a real firecracker, and Nick… stick with him. A lot is going on under the surface with him, and I found myself really connecting with someone who has had to be strong for a lot of people from a young age.
Siblings on both sides in Oliver, Kate and Evelyn are wonderful additions who sell this romance, but a special shoutout must go to Gran. When I get old, I want to be like her!
Love comes in many forms in this story: finding love, self-love, giving permission to love, and it’s where Hewitt succeeds. This story has a bit more bite in it compared to other rom-coms out there; it’s love, warts and all, and there is a lot of beauty in it.
Hewitt is a name to watch in romance; her writing of intimacy is stunning, and I can see many characters spinning off and having their own adventures off this promising debut.
RATING: 4/5 | BUY HERE
Motherhood, friendship, identity, the consequences of lying and the challenges and pressures placed on women are front and centre in an astonishing debut from Katie Hoskins - one of my favourite books of the year.
Told from three different perspectives in Amanda, Natalie and Lisa, a group of friends get together for a fun birthday party at Natalie’s house - a party that rapidly gets out of control.
However, the following day, Natalie’s toddler Toby is found clutching a tablet, with a quarter of it missing. After a traumatic experience at the hospital, the fallout begins from this party, with the community turning on Natalie, social services on her back, and Amanda and Lisa also dealing with repercussions of their own from this party.
Whose pill was it? And what else occurred that night?
This book is a loaded, stunning, domestic noir, brilliantly capturing life in your thirties as children, careers and more get in the way. Natalie goes through a lot in this story, and the challenges of motherhood really bring this home in her interactions with her husband Ben, who is also trying his best.
Amanda and her partner Sammy are dealing with challenges of their own, with both trying for children and facing difficult dynamics between the two of them. That does come with a trigger warning for anyone who has encountered fertility issues; the scenes involving them can be very challenging.
As for Lisa… the less said the better. The only single one in this friendship group, she is watching her friends start to settle out and put their lives together, and she starts to wonder what choices she has.
I cannot stress this enough: avoid spoilers for this book. Just read it. A phenomenal deep dive into the challenges of domestic life, filled with tension and dread. This book will hook you and will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
RATING: 4.5/5 | BUY HERE
Now it’s time for a peek behind the curtain in May….👇🏼
You can get early access to the next two episodes of Date with a Debut right here👇🏼
CLICK HERE FOR EARLY ACCESS TO THIS EPISODE«««
What if you found the love of your life ... and then lost them? Join us for the fifth episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, as Nick sits down with Leearna Shaw, the debut author of contemporary rural romance, A Farm in Golden Clouds.
Broadcast Date: 5th May 2026
CLICK HERE FOR EARLY ACCESS TO THIS EPISODE«««
A provocative novel about women’s bodies, sex, autonomy - and the power of the image. Join us for the sixth episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, as Nick sits down with Emily Lighezzolo, the author of the award-winning literary fiction debut, Life Drawing.
Broadcast Date: 12th May 2026
Now, the newsletter exclusives! It’s time for Second Date!
Since launching the newsletter in December last year, I’ve loved the response I’ve gotten from listeners and readers about the podcast, and so I decided to allow VIP access for free since December 2025!
However, after July 2026’s newsletter, the paywall will be officially going up for VIP Bookies, meaning you will need to sign up for a paid subscription at $6 a month, or $50 for an annual subscription, to get early access to Date with a Debut episodes, and to Second Date episodes.
If you’re liking this, though, I’m excited to announce a special offer: if you sign up for a paid subscription, you can get access to all of VIP Bookies for 12 months at 50% off, starting from June 2026! That’s $3 a month!
Click below to redeem this special offer!
Alas, we have come to the end of this newsletter… but the fun does doesn’t have to stop there!
Head to my full archive to check out my entire catalogue of work, plus more!
That’s it for this month’s newsletter. See you in June for even more new episodes!
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